The $11 million Roosevelt Island Shoreline renovation project to fix the
crumbling Southpoint Park seawall and provide public access to previously
fenced in areas adjacent to the East River will open this weekend....
Here's what the new Southpoint Park shoreline pathways
looked like today.
Roosevelt Island Southpoint Park shoreline has new open pathway close to
East River. Spectacular views but safety issues remain.
@RIOCny@RiocCeopic.twitter.com/MxwAPUqjAm
According to these comments from Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC)
Instagram Page
Too many safety hazards, like too low barriers by the water, cheap
plantings, sloppy work, dangerous "fences". Just a mess since all of RIOC
was AWOL and didn't give a darn on the project
The wooden benches have not been sealed and the salt air will deteriorate
them.
It is a shame that the users will see a cheap version of the successful park
like Brooklyn Bridge Park,
There should be a fence in this area!
That’s exactly what I was just telling my brother. Kids can climb on the
rocks or anyone else and then fall right into the water which isn’t cool.
Not sure why @rooseveltislandrioc decided this was “good”
The Roosevelt Island Saturday Farmers Market is relocating from Good Shepherd Plaza to their temporary winter home under the Motorgate Helix starting this Saturday, November 27.
According to Farmers Market vendor Israel Wengerd of Wengerd Farms:
The move is necessary to be out of the inclement winter weather.
The Roosevelt Island Farmers Market at Motorgate Plaza under the Helix
is open early morning to mid afternoon on Saturdays in good weather
and bad offering a wide variety of healthy and delicious tasting fruits,
vegetables and much more.
is moving tomorrow too next to the Farmers Market:
The Big Reuse Food Scrap Drop-Off for compost program is year round each Saturday from 9am to 2pm. Starting Saturday 11/27/21 we move to the winter location near the helix Motorgate garage area along with the farmers market. Please drop your food scraps with the volunteers from the Haki Compost Collective for processing so we can return compost to our neighborhood landscapes and gardens. Let's help our essential workers by removing wet waste from our buildings. To volunteer please write to Hakicompost@gmail.com.
Local resident and iDig2Learn Founder Christina Delfico reports that the Roosevelt Island November 6 Big Reuse Pumpkin Smash collected 1022 pounds of Halloween waste that was diverted from landfill.
Happy Thanksgiving Day wishes to everyone out there in Roosevelt Island
land and elsewhere. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!
Since Thanksgiving is a day all about about Tradition, here is my traditional
Thanksgiving Day post started in 2007.
In addition to family, great food, the Macy's Parade, Miracle on 34th Street,
March of the Wooden Soldiers and football, listening to
Arlo Guthrie's rendition of
Alice's Restaurant on WNEW-FM was, for me, a wonderful Thanksgiving tradition.
A former station DJ remembers Thanksgiving and Arlo Guthrie this way on the
blog
All Mixed Up Radio.
Every year a couple of days before Thanksgiving, it starts. It's slow at
first, and then turns into a non-stop avalanche of phone calls. And no
matter how many times a station runs promo announcements telling people
exactly when it will be played, the calls still come.
"What time are you playing 'Alice's Restaurant?'"...
Yes, in the olden days people used to listen to music on the radio. Imagine
that!
Here's a snippet of Alice's Restaurant with Arlo Guthrie and Johnny Cash
The $11 million
Roosevelt Island Shoreline renovation project
to fix the crumbling Southpoint Park seawall and provide public access to
previously fenced in areas adjacent to the East River will open this
weekend.
... Southpoint Park Rip Rap Revetment project will be opening this weekend.
This is one of those transformative projects that will truly enhance your
Roosevelt Island experience. This $11million project has been completed on
time and $1million under budget…. Kudos to our RIOC team and affiliates.
Today, I walked around the Southpoint Park shoreline area that is still behind
fencing facing Queens
The Southpoint Park Shoreline Restoration project is complete and will be open to the public, tomorrow, Saturday, November 27th, at 5 PM, showcasing its two newly expanded and improved waterfront promenades.
The project,
while providing enhanced scenic views in and around the park, included
measures to protect 1,600 linear feet of shoreline and incorporated
nearly 34,000 square feet of new, indigenous landscaping.
Come out and enjoy
spectacular city views from expanded lookout points, quiet strolls
through winding pathways lined with lush vegetation, and a chance to
rediscover the riverfront while relaxing on accessible seating.
What are your plans for Thanksgiving this year. Are you going away, staying home
and cooking or going out for your Thanksgiving dinner? Whatever your plans,
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!.
... food inflation and supply chain costs, and how prices could be
higher this holiday season.
According to Mr. Leonard:
... There's certain foods to avoid right now but you're going to feel a little
bit more but I want everybody to remember Thanksgiving is the least expensive
holiday of the year...
The Upper East Side Francophone Dual Language Initiative is an organization
that successfully created two Pre-K classes on the Upper East Side, and is
currently working hard for the implementation of a Francophone dual language
program in School District 2 public schools serving the Upper East Side and
Roosevelt Island.
The organization is planning a discussion session on Roosevelt Island for
parents who may be interested in more information in the program. Space may
be limited;
so please RSVP at this link. Further information — including the date, time and location of the
meeting — will be forwarded after registration.
Roosevelt Island resident Bafode Drame adds:
The Dual Language, French-English Initiative that created a free Pre-K public
school program in District 2, is trying to extend the program to grades K-5,
and also reaching out to the RI community to raise awareness for the free
public school program in District 2 that includes Roosevelt Island.
Council Member Ben Kallos led a ribbon cutting to announce the availability
of 40 Pre-K Seats for a French dual language program that will serve members
of the Francophone community on the East Side.
According to Council Member Kallos, the New York City Department of
Education will operate the classes using a side-by-side instructional model
where it will have one Early Childhood-certified teacher who is fluent in
French and who has or will work towards a bilingual extension, alongside a
second Early Childhood-certified teacher.
Classes started at the Pre-K Center at 355 East 76th Street on
September 21....
Parents on the Upper East Side were thrilled when, after their hard work and
support from elected officials, the Department of Education opened a pre-K
French dual language program last October. The parents, however, had also
worked with the DOE to identify a public school on the Upper East Side that
would host a K-5 French dual language program so that the pre-K students could
continue their second language studies. But on Monday afternoon, the DOE
informed the parents that it would not be opening a K-5 program for the new
school year in September....
Ms Levy reported last week:
The DOE had promised to help that happen, but did not keep their word last
year. We are trying to change that this year. We are hopeful with the
new mayor, things may change.
Roosevelt Island and Upper East Side
NYC Council Member Ben Kallos supports expansion of the dual French/English language program to K-5 grades
in District 2. According to Mr Kallos:
Roosevelt Island is an incredibly diverse community, including families from
Francophone countries all over the world. The Upper East Side's French Dual
Language program has been a success, with some Roosevelt Islanders already
participating.
Expanding this program would open more seats to interested families,
and would be a great opportunity for the Island's international community.
Thank you to the parents who have tirelessly advocated for these programs,
not only for their own children, but for the community as a whole.
Roosevelt Island and the Upper East Side NYC Council Member-elect
Julie Menin
adds:
The Department of Education must expand the French dual language program
within Community School District 2, which enables students to write, read and
speak in both English and their home language. Assisting our bilingual
families supports the multiculturalism that is a central component of New York
City’s identity. It is essential that the Department of Education reconsider
this decision.
25% of all Christmas Tree sales will be donated to the PTA of PS/IS 217, so this is a great way to help support our school while enjoying some holiday cheer!
We have a new local tree grower that we are partnering with this year: Greg's Trees -- We look forward to developing this partnership over the next few years.
Pickup will be at the Helix (close to Foodtown Supermarket) on a date of your choosing:
Saturday November 27th,
Friday December 3rd,
Saturday December 11th.
We will follow up with each order to confirm your pickup date. There will be an assortment of trees to choose from according to the size of tree that you purchased.
Prices below are inclusive of the NYC sales tax of 8.875%.
We are arranging middle-school students to help offer delivery of these trees -- Tips greatly appreciated.
Did you know that it takes 10 years to grow a five foot tree???
Click here to order your Roosevelt Island Christmas Tree and help support the PS/IS 217 PTA.
UPDATE 11/28 - A reader asked today:
Usually I go to your blog to see when the tree sales start. I didn’t see
a post about it. It’s always the weekend after Thanksgiving under the
motor gate. I just went there and didn’t see the team selling trees.
Just curious if you know anything. Thanks a lot.
I'll ask the PTA if Christmas Trees can still be ordered for next pick up date.
Residents were picking up Christmas Trees
yesterday at the Motorgate Helix next to Farmers Market.
UPDATE 8:50 PM - The Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 PTA reply:
This is your last chance to grab your Christmas Tree in support of PS/IS 217. Pre-order now-- our local tree farmer, "Santa" Greg, will be back one last time this Saturday, Dec 11, 12:00 - 4:00PM. He brings a few extra so you can pick your favorite (pre-order guarantees you a tree!)! Remember that 25% of every purchase will return to support the PS/IS 217 PTA and our students. Buy your tree now.
Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.
The Purpose of this Blog is to provide accurate and timely information about Roosevelt Island as well as a forum for residents to express opinions and engage in a dialogue to improve our community.
